Course Syllabus

South Carolina Standards:  (List the standards students are expected to master in this course)

• H.B.2: The Student will demonstrate the understanding that the essential functions of life take place within cells or systems.

• • H.B.3: The student will demonstrate the understanding that all essential processes within organisms require energy which in most ecosystems is ultimately derived from the sun and transferred into chemical energy by the photosynthetic organisms of that ecosystem.
  • H.B.4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the specific mechanisms by which characteristics or traits are transferred from one generation to the next via genes.
  • H.B.5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of biological evolution and the diversity of life.
  • H.B.6: The student will demonstrate an understanding that ecosystems are complex, interactive systems that include biological communities and physical components of the environment

Biology I CP Syllabus

Mrs. J. Shaw - Seneca High School

jshaw@g.oconee.k12.sc.us

 

Welcome to Biology which means the study of life! This course is designed to guide the student toward a better understanding of the fundamental concepts and research in the science of Biology, the study of life. This is a college preparatory class and as such, topics will be covered in more depth (and at a faster rate) which will require students to use higher order problem solving skills. A major goal of this class is for students to learn and understand the facts, formulas, and principles that compose general Biology. Additionally, students will sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they learn to successfully perform scientific experiments.  This course gives students the solid grounding in the basic principles of Biology that they will need to be successful in a college science class. Students will also develop an appreciation of how Biology relates to their everyday lives.

 

Materials needed:

Textbook: “Biology” – Miller & Levine (class set provided; individual copies can be requested)

Notebook: one 2-inch 3 ring binder or spiral bound notebook with pockets

Paper, pens, and pencils

Two packages of 3” x 5” note cards

One Composition notebook

 

Schedule for topics this year:

Intro Unit: Scientific Inquiry

Unit 1: Ecology

Unit 2: Evolution

Unit 3: DNA and RNA

Unit 4: Genetics

Unit 5: Mitosis and Meiosis

Unit 6: Cell Energy

Unit 7: Cell Biology

Unit 8: Cell Membrane

Unit 9: Chemistry of Life

 

Rules for a learning environment:

• All rules in the Seneca High handbook should be complied with.
• Show respect
  • Students must show respect towards the teacher, themselves, and other students (talking while others are talking, staying on task, not getting up out of seat during class unless told to do so, etc.)
  • Inappropriate language will not be tolerated
  • Students should not use phones during class unless otherwise instructed to do so.
• Be accountable
  • Being on time to class (in your seat working on the Bellringer activity); if Tardy- doors will be closed and locked at the tardy bell. All students not in class will report to attendance.
  • Being prepared for class with all materials everyday
  • Getting your makeup work completed and turned in within 3 days of return date
  • If you know you will be absent, get your assignments ahead of time
• Be resourceful
  • Take care of bathroom breaks, guidance, etc. before or after class (if you have a medical excuse, bring a note from your doctor)
  • Studying and completing assignments is up to you- you are responsible for getting and completing all assignments on time

 

Rules and Consequences:

 

Anyone who chooses not to follow Mrs. Shaw’s rules will be subject to the following consequence:

1^st Offense:  Verbal Warning

2^nd Offense:  Lunch Detention

3^rd Offense:  After School Detention

4^th Offense:  Office Referral

***Severity Clause:  if at any point the student’s behavior is deemed to be extreme or excessive, the student will be immediately sent to the office or removed from the class

***Parent contact may occur at any time

 

Grading scale:

 

100-90: A        89-80: B          79-70: C          69-60:D          >60: F

 

Seneca High School Science Department Grading Policy:

Major Assessments – 60% of Final Grade

            Tests- *only one retest per 9 weeks is allowed

            Formal Lab reports & Projects

Minor Assessments – 40% of Final Grade

            Quizzes & Informal Lab Reports

            Homework & Class work

**For Biology 1, the state mandated End of Course Test counts as 20% of the final grade and replaces the Midterm and Final Exams.

***Missing/Late Assignments

On the day an assignment is due, if a student fails to turn the assignment in during the class period the student will be assigned a lunch detention during the next available lunch (morning class on the same day and afternoon class on the next day) Tuesday - Friday.  If the student fails to complete the assignment during that lunch detention, they will continue to sit lunch detention until that assignment is complete.

 

Professionalism- You are a professional student - TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR WORK! A good rule of thumb is to compare your behavior in this class to that at work.  What is not acceptable in the workplace is not acceptable here.  The following guidelines will be used to grade written assignments:

1. No pen will be allowed on work that will be turned in.
2. Complete sentences will be used in assignments unless otherwise directed.  A one word or short phrase answer will not earn full credit on assignments needing complete sentences.
3. Support for answers should be included in your response.  Referring to the text is an example of how to support an answer.

Guidelines for Academic Integrity

Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the coursework they submit.  The following are guidelines to assist students in observing academic integrity:

• Students must do their own work and submit only their own work on assignments (including homework), examinations, reports, and projects, unless otherwise permitted by the instructor.
• Students may benefit from working in groups.  They may collaborate or cooperate with other students on graded assignments or examinations as directed by the instructor.
• Students must follow all written and/or verbal instructions given by instructors prior to taking examinations, tests, quizzes, and performance evaluations.
• Students are responsible for adhering to course requirements as specified by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Extra Help Procedures-

Students are always welcome and encouraged to come for extra help. I am available every morning from 8:20 am until first period. To avoid any conflicts, it is a good idea to let me know ahead of time if you plan to drop in, but drop ins are always welcome. Students entering the building before school are required to have a signed agenda. Seneca HS will be implementing the 5^th Block program again this year; a teacher from the science department will be available for help every day before and after school except Fridays. This time will be used for students to receive extra help as well as to make up tests and labs.